Adjustable and removable metatarsal pad



y 1932- R. H. JOHNSON 1,866,598

ADJUSTABLE AND REMOVABLE IETATARSAL PAD Filed Nov. 18. 1927 I. VA'sAA"Patented July 12, i632 3085 H; JOHNSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS ADJUSTABLEAND REMOVABLE IETATARSAL PAD Application filed November 18, 1927. SerialNo. 234,195.

My invention relates to an adjustable and removable metatarsal pad, theprimary object of which is to provide a'pad of a simple, inexpensivenature which can be placed with Q in the shoe in properiposition tosupport the metatarsal bones and muscles of the foot.

A feature of m invention resides in providing a ad which can be made upeconomically an which is formed with piercing points projecting from theunder side of the same which are adapted to engage in the inner sole ofa shoe to hold the metatarsal pad v in proper position. These engagingpoints permit the pad to be held firmly in place yet permit it to beeasily removed. This is an important feature of my invention becausethese metatarsal pads are made of a felt or wool-like material and whenthey become impregnated with perspiration it is de- .80 sirable tochange the same for a new pad.

My invention includes a metatarsal pad having a cushion made of felt,wool, or other suitab e substance with the side edges beveled ofi amanner to slope toward the outer 85 periphery of the same, while the-center portion curves upward to form the body of the pad. I provide aplate of thin sheet metal on the under side of the pad and by asuitablefiexible means the late is held in central 80 position beneath the odyof the pad and this plate is provided with piercing points which projectdownward in a manner to readily engage the inner sole of a shoe to holdthe pad in place.

These features, together with other details and objects of the inventionwill be more clearly and fully set forth in the specification andclaims.

In the drawing forming part of my specification:

Figure 1 is a section'al side view of a shoe illustratingdiagrammatically the foot within the same and my metatarsal pad in theposition it would assume in use.

Figure 2 is a plan view of my pad; Figure 3 is an enlarged section onthe line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side plate. Figure 5-is a plan view of the same.

view of the attaching Figure 6 is a diagrammatic outline of the sole ofa shoe illustrating my metatarsal pad in plan view placed in theapproximate position that it would assume in use,

My metatarsal pad Ais of a very simple, inexpensive construction havinga body'portion B formed of felt or a wool pad with an upwardlyprojecting central portion 10 and a side beveled peripheral edge 11extending about the same.

The pad A is of any suitable thickness and of such a shape asillustrated in Figure 2 or any other suitable shape best adapted to theformation of the foot. The pad A is adapted to form the supporting meansfor the metatarsal bones O of a uman beings foot and by using myadjustable removable metatarsal pad A the person can adjust the samewithin the shoe at a point or place which feels most comfortable. 7 y

I provide a particular means for holding my metatarsal pad A whichincludes a metal plate 12 having depending piercing points 13. Thisplate 12 is of-a thin sheet material very light in weight and thepiercing points 13 are cut out of the body portion 14 of the plate 12,leaving the openings 15'where the piercing points 13 have been cut fromthe ody 14. a

The plate 12 is held to the bottom of the pad A by means of the flexibleportion 16 which extends over the entire bottom of the pad A and whichis sealed securely to the under side of the pad A in a manner to holdthe plate 12 in approximately acentral 0- sition with the iercing'points13' extending through the flexi le member 16.

The flexible or textile strip 16 is adapted to extend through theopenings 15 and engage with the under side' of the pad A,.thus providingan attaching means to assist in bolding the plate 12 in'position inrelation to. the

pad. I also provide a central opening 18 in the plate12so that thetextile material 16 ma press up and meet the under side of the b6 y 10'of the pad A, thus firmly and securel'y attaching the plate 12 in afixed position, virtually equally spaced from the outer periphery so asto position the plate beneath the body 10 of the pad.

The plate 12 has a rigid construction when it is formed of metal andthis provides 'ust the right amount of stiffening to the pa A.

-The felt B of the pad A is soft so as to fit into the arch 17 of thefoot beneath the metatarsal bones G and the holding means lfi-is of aflexible nature so that the plate 12 provides the necessary rigidity tothe pad A to make a more practical and more desirable metatarsalsupport.

In this manner 1 provide a metatarsal pad A having a flexible felt bodyB of a soft pliable nature adapted to form the desired support to themuscles and bones of the foot in a shoe and having a firm rigid backformation in the plate 12 which provides the proper rigidity and holdingmeans for holding the pad A adjustable and removable to the inner sole Eof the shoe F. I have found that my metatarsal pad A is of a verydesirable nature as it overcomes the objectionable features ofmetatarsal pads which are glued to the inner I sole so that they cannotbe removed or adjusted, and by the inexpensive, simple con- W struction1i provide a metatarsal pad which is easily replaced by a new pad whenthe old one becomes soiled, or it can be easily adjusted b the user soas to place it in the most comtortable position Within the shoe. This isa very marked feature of advantage in my invention.

In accordance with the patent statutes 1 have described the principlesof o eration of my metatarsal pad and While I ave illus trated aparticular formation, construction and arrangement of the parts, Idesire to have it understood that the same is only illustra= tive of ameans of carrying out my invention and that the same may be applied touses other than those above set forth Without departing from the spiritof my invention but Within the scope oi' the following claims:

I claim:

1. A metatarsal pad including, a felt body portion, a plate adapted tobe positioned 7 against the back of said body, securing means forholding said plate-to said bod portion,

and piercing points formed on sai plate by bending down out portionsfrom the bod of the plate leaving apertures through w ich the securingmeans may be further secured to the body portion.

2. A metatarsal pad including a soft body portion a plate adapted to besecured to the ack of said body portion, pie cing oints formed in staidplate remote from the e ge of the same, and. ent in a manner to projecttherefrom, apertures formed in said plate by the bending of said points,and a textile covering securing said plate to said body secured to saidbody portion about said plate and through said apertures. I

ROSS H. JOHNSON.

